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UNC Softball: Tar Heels learn their destination in 2019 NCAA Tournament

By Zack Pearson

JAKARTA, INDONESIA - MAY 03: Official balls Mizuno 150 are seen during the match between Hong Kong and Indonesia on day three of the 12th Softball Women's Asia Cup on May 03, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images)
JAKARTA, INDONESIA - MAY 03: Official balls Mizuno 150 are seen during the match between Hong Kong and Indonesia on day three of the 12th Softball Women's Asia Cup on May 03, 2019 in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Robertus Pudyanto/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Softball program is heading to Tennessee to open up the 2019 NCAA Tournament as they are placed in the Knoxville Regional

The Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament didn’t end how the North Carolina Tar Heels wanted it to, dropping the title game 8-0 to Florida State in 6 innings. But now their focus is on a much larger prize.

On Sunday night the full 2019 NCAA Softball Tournament bracket and regions were released for all 64 teams, revealing the regional matchups that will begin this week.

For the Tar Heels, they finished the 2019 regular season at 35-18 overall and 17-7 in conference play. They beat Louisville and NC State in the ACC Tournament before falling to the Seminoles.

That record was good enough to get UNC into the 2019 NCAA Tournament but they are stuck in a pretty tough region.

The Tar Heels were placed in the Knoxville Regional with No. 12-seeded Tennessee, Ohio State and Longwood. UNC will open up the double-elimination regional on Friday morning, taking on the Buckeyes at 11 a.m. EST. Tennessee and Longwood will follow that game.

Friday’s losers will meet on Saturday morning in a one-game elimination with the loser going home for good. The winner will advance to the night game on Saturday for another elimination game. Friday’s winners will meet Saturday afternoon with the winner moving on to Sunday’s round and the loser facing elimination.

Here is the breakdown of the regional:

Game 1:  North Carolina (35-18) vs. Ohio St. (34-16) | 11 a.m. Friday | ESPN2
Game 2: Longwood (37-20) vs. No. 12 seed Tennessee* (39-14) | 1:30 p.m. Friday | ESPN3
Game 3: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner | 12 p.m. Saturday
Game 4 : Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser | 2:30 p.m. Saturday
Game 5 : Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 winner | 5 p.m. Saturday
Game 6: Game 3 winner vs. Game 5 winner | 12 p.m. Sunday
Game 7: (if necessary): Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser | 2:30 p.m. Sunday

The Knoxville Regional will be paired up with the Gainesville Regional with the winners meeting in the next round. No. 5 Florida is the top team in the Gainesville Regional which also features Stanford, Boise State and Boston University.

This is the 15th appearance all-time for the Tar Heels in the NCAA Tournament and the fourth in the past five years.

Next. Tar Heels fall short in ACC title game. dark

For more on the UNC Softball program, please check back with Keeping it Heel.

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